Fables 1802

This undated print, "Fables," by Jean de La Fontaine, resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. La Fontaine, writing in 17th-century France during the reign of Louis XIV, crafted fables that served as both entertainment and social commentary. This print, illustrating the twelfth book of his fables, gives us insight into the culture of the French court. While seemingly simple tales, these fables often satirized the powerful, reflecting the social hierarchy and moral lessons of the time. La Fontaine navigated the complexities of court life, using wit to critique power. As he once said, "A person is never ridiculous for the qualities he has, but for those he affects to have." Consider how La Fontaine used animal characters to distance himself from direct criticism while still addressing human follies. His work wasn't just storytelling; it was a delicate dance of resistance, reflecting the tensions between artistic expression and social constraint.